RECORD: Anon. 1846. [Review of] Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the various countries visited by H.B.M.S Beagle round the world. United States Democratic Review 18, no.95 (May): 398.

Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of the Countries visited during the Voyage of H. B. M. S. Beagle round the world. BY CHARLES DARWIN, M. A., F. R. S. In two vols. Harper & Brothers.

The voyage of the Beagle, under the direction of the British Government, was a scientific exploring expedition, and, at special request of the Lords of the Admiralty, Mr. Darwin accompanied it. The results of his labors were published in several elaborate and costly volumes of great value to the scientific world, but far beyond the reach of the larger proportion of the leading world. The volumes before us were prepared in a most acceptable form, comprising, in a condensed view, the general results of the expedition, imparting the information, collected by such an expenditure of money, time and scientific skill, to the reading world, in two elegant volumes of Harper's New Miscellany, at fifty cents each. The narrative is enlivened with the most interesting incidents of personal adventure, while it developes new and important facts in Geology, Natural History and Geography. We cannot but look upon this class of publications as the most desirable to lay before the community, and we doubt not but it will become the most popular. The appetite soon palls with the exciting verbiage which has of late deluged the market, and the perusal of which occupies the time and vitiates the taste without adding to the stock of knowledge. The journey of Parrott to Ararat, which we have before noticed as part of the same series of publications with the volumes of Darwin, are equally as interesting as the most popular romances of the day, while they convey solid information of the most desirable kind.